Indonesians seized by armed men near Philippines south

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - The Philippines military is attempting to verify a report Sunday that two Indonesian fishing boat skippers have been seized in a major sea lane and fishing area by a Daesh-linked group.

The kidnappings were reported to have taken place Saturday in separate incidents in waters belonging to the Malaysian province of Sabah near the southern Philippines island province of Tawi-Tawi.

Malaysian news agency Bernama has said that the duo were seized by armed men on speedboats and despite efforts by the Philippines Eastern Sabah Security Command efforts to find them failed.

The Philippines military is verifying whether the abductions were carried out by the Abu Sayyaf, which was behind the kidnapping of several Indonesian and Malaysian sailors this year off Sabah, some of whom are still being held captive in the province of Sulu.

Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent province in the Philippines.

It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.

The Abu Sayyaf is among two militant groups in the south who have pledged allegiance to Daesh, prompting fears during the stalling of a peace process between the government and the country's one-time largest Moro rebel group that it could make inroads in a region torn by decades of armed conflict.